SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) — South Dakota is rolling out a comprehensive suicide prevention plan in response to a rise in suicides across the state.
Health Department Secretary Kim Malsam-Rysdon and Department of Social Services Secretary Laurie Gill formerly presented the plan to legislators Thursday.
The plan comes at the request of Gov. Kristi Noem, who stressed the importance of suicide prevention in her State of the State address earlier this month.
South Dakota has the sixth-highest suicide rate in the nation, according to the state Department of Health. The state’s Native American population is particularly affected; Malsam-Rysdon said the suicide rate among native communities in South Dakota is roughly twice as high compared to the rest of the state.
“Suicide isn’t something that we’re going to solve in short order,” Malsam-Rysdon said. “It’s going to take a concerted effort from many people at the state and local level.”
Malsam-Rysdon said part of that effort is reaching out to people who want to help and connecting them with resources to get involved. “It helps people take that step from being interested in the issue to action that they can take that will be helpful.”
The program has its own website, sdsuicideprevention.org. Gill said the site is important to help local efforts “get resources that are free of charge to them so they can get things rolling at the local level.”
